San Diego RIPA Data Pillars Project

Descriptive Analysis

Before engaging in a detailed analysis of SDPD patrol activity as outlined in the research plan, we created this descriptive analysis to explore overall trends in the SDPD RIPA data. This helps us determine if our expected findings are likely to show up in the data and allows us to identify any trends we did not expect. The analysis includes:

General counts and percents of SDPD stops by key fields in RIPA data, e.g., stop reason, stop result, calls for service, race, age, searches, officer assignment.

Total Number of Stops and People Stopped

In 2022, there were 86,632 unique police stops. Of those stops, 79, 416 were officer-initiated stops. Gang enforcement made 420 unique stops in 2022. Of those stops, 397 were officer-initiated stops.

In 2022, 96,119 people were stopped by SDPD, 88,099 of which were stopped for an officer-initiated stop. Gang enforcement stopped 508 people in 2022; 484 people were stopped for an officer-initiated stop.

Calls for Service versus Officer-initiated

The majority of officer time is spent on officer-initiated stops rather than calls for service. This is true across all officer unit types, as well as for the gang enforcement unit.

Analysis cut by all unit types:

Stop Counts and Rates by Response to Service Call for All Units

Year	Assignment	Call for Service	Total	Count	Percent	Average Stop Time (Mins)	Median Stop Time (Mins)	Min Stop Time (Mins)	Max Stop Time (Mins)	Total Time (Mins)
2022	All units	No	86,632	79,416	91.7	27.4	10.0	1	1,440	2,173,760
2022	All units	Yes	86,632	7,216	8.3	59.3	30.0	1	1,220	428,183

Analysis filtered for gang suppression unit:

Stop Counts and Rates by Response to Service Call for Gang Suppression Unit

Year	Assignment	Call for Service	Total	Count	Percent	Average Stop Time (Mins)	Median Stop Time (Mins)	Min Stop Time (Mins)	Max Stop Time (Mins)	Total Time (Mins)
2022	Gang enforcement	No	420	397	94.5	29.3	15	1	300	11,613
2022	Gang enforcement	Yes	420	23	5.5	123.9	120	20	260	2,850

Analysis cut by SDPD division:

All SDPD divisions spent more than 90% of its time on officer-initiated stops, with the exception of Mid-City and Eastern which spent over 87% of patrol time on officer-initiated stops.

Stop Counts and Rates by Response to Service Call by Division

Year	Division Name	Call for Service	Total	Count	Percent	Average Stop Time (Mins)	Median Stop Time (Mins)	Min Stop Time (Mins)	Max Stop Time (Mins)	Total Time (Mins)
2022	CENTRAL	No	17,492	16,280	93.1	28.7	15.0	1	1,440	466,435
2022	CENTRAL	Yes	17,492	1,212	6.9	41.5	20.0	1	420	50,301
2022	EASTERN	No	8,599	7,707	89.6	25.6	10.0	1	1,200	196,958
2022	EASTERN	Yes	8,599	892	10.4	61.4	30.0	1	540	54,759
2022	MID-CITY	No	10,033	8,798	87.7	28.4	15.0	1	1,300	249,843
2022	MID-CITY	Yes	10,033	1,235	12.3	52.3	30.0	2	480	64,552
2022	NORTHEASTERN	No	4,541	4,139	91.1	29.9	14.0	1	1,440	123,704
2022	NORTHEASTERN	Yes	4,541	402	8.9	75.9	45.0	2	600	30,507
2022	NORTHERN	No	13,859	12,797	92.3	24.7	10.0	1	1,330	315,534
2022	NORTHERN	Yes	13,859	1,062	7.7	67.1	30.0	1	1,220	71,295
2022	NORTHWESTERN	No	3,401	3,250	95.6	20.9	10.0	1	1,120	68,027
2022	NORTHWESTERN	Yes	3,401	151	4.4	69.8	60.0	5	300	10,541
2022	SOUTHEASTERN	No	7,746	7,117	91.9	28.6	10.0	1	1,400	203,877
2022	SOUTHEASTERN	Yes	7,746	629	8.1	75.0	60.0	1	480	47,147
2022	SOUTHERN	No	7,153	6,644	92.9	28.1	10.0	1	1,000	186,385
2022	SOUTHERN	Yes	7,153	509	7.1	65.6	45.0	1	360	33,371
2022	UNKNOWN DIVISION	No	2,799	2,779	99.3	16.6	10.0	1	1,212	46,214
2022	UNKNOWN DIVISION	Yes	2,799	20	0.7	86.0	40.0	1	540	1,720
2022	WESTERN	No	11,009	9,905	90.0	32.0	15.0	1	1,440	316,783
2022	WESTERN	Yes	11,009	1,104	10.0	58.0	30.0	1	600	63,990

Total Officer-Intiated Stops Over Time

The number of officer-initiated stops across all police unit types peaked in 2019, with a slight decrease in 2020-2022. The COVID-19 pandemic directly impacted police activity, making it unsurprising that there were less stops conducted overall.

The gang suppression unit has conducted less officer-initiated stops overtime, with a steep drop-off between 2021-2022. Notably, the gang enforcement unit made more officer-initiated stops in 2020 than in 2021 and 2022 combined. This suggests that the numbers are not driven by the COVID-19 pandemic but other reasons. Officers making gang enforcement stops might be doing it under the guise of a different unit assignment, resulting in the gang enforcement stops being under-counted.

Total Count of Officer-Initiated Stops Over Time

Year	All Units Total	Gang Suppression Unit Total
2018	69,766	1,501
2019	142,663	3,263
2020	116,754	1,592
2021	104,561	643
2022	79,416	397
2023	21,578	95

Total Officer-Intiated Stops by Police Assignment

Patrol, traffic enforcement, and field operations conduct the majority of officer-initiated stops, followed by the ‘Other’ unit category. While gang enforcement has the third highest rate of officer-initiated stops the overall count is low. This is most likely due to gang enforcement stops being conducted under a different unit assignment.

Total and Rate of Stops by Patrol Assignment Type in 2022

Year	Patrol Assignment	Total	Count	Percent
2022	Patrol, traffic enforcement, field operations	79,416	77,386	97.4
2022	Other	79,416	1,121	1.4
2022	Gang enforcement	79,416	397	0.5
2022	Investigative/detective	79,416	304	0.4
2022	Narcotics/vice	79,416	108	0.1
2022	Special events	79,416	45	0.1
2022	K1-12 public school inlcuding school resource officer or school police officer	79,416	43	0.1
2022	Task force	79,416	10	0.0
2022	Compliance check	79,416	2	0.0

Total Officer-Intiated Stops by Police Division

High rates of officer-initiated stops are consistent across all police divisions.

Total and Rate of Stops by Police Division in 2022

Year	Division Name	Call for Service	Total	Count	Percent
2022	CENTRAL	No	17,492	16,280	93.1
2022	CENTRAL	Yes	17,492	1,212	6.9
2022	EASTERN	No	8,599	7,707	89.6
2022	EASTERN	Yes	8,599	892	10.4
2022	MID-CITY	No	10,033	8,798	87.7
2022	MID-CITY	Yes	10,033	1,235	12.3
2022	NORTHEASTERN	No	4,541	4,139	91.1
2022	NORTHEASTERN	Yes	4,541	402	8.9
2022	NORTHERN	No	13,859	12,797	92.3
2022	NORTHERN	Yes	13,859	1,062	7.7
2022	NORTHWESTERN	No	3,401	3,250	95.6
2022	NORTHWESTERN	Yes	3,401	151	4.4
2022	SOUTHEASTERN	No	7,746	7,117	91.9
2022	SOUTHEASTERN	Yes	7,746	629	8.1
2022	SOUTHERN	No	7,153	6,644	92.9
2022	SOUTHERN	Yes	7,153	509	7.1
2022	WESTERN	No	11,009	9,905	90.0
2022	WESTERN	Yes	11,009	1,104	10.0
2022	UNKNOWN DIVISION	No	2,799	2,779	99.3
2022	UNKNOWN DIVISION	Yes	2,799	20	0.7

Stop Reasons

Traffic Violation is the most common stop reason for officer-initiated stops, followed by Reasonable Suspicion, across all police units and for the gang enforcement unit. However, nearly 70% of all officer-initiated stops conducted by the gang enforcement unit are for Traffic Violation, with only 24% being conducted for Reasonable Suspicion. Traffic Violation stops are a more significant majority of all gang enforcement stops.

Stop reason by police assignment

Total and Rate of Officer-Initiated Stops by Stop Reason

Year	Assignment	Reason for stop	Total	Count	Percent
2022	All units	Traffic Violation	90,777	48,926	53.9
2022	All units	Reasonable Suspicion	90,777	39,019	43.0
2022	All units	Knowledge of outstanding arrest warrant/wanted person	90,777	1,281	1.4
2022	All units	Investigation to determine whether the person was truant	90,777	734	0.8
2022	All units	Known to be on Parole / Probation / PRCS / Mandatory Supervision	90,777	553	0.6
2022	All units	Consensual Encounter resulting in a search	90,777	262	0.3
2022	All units	Determine whether the student violated school policy	90,777	2	0.0
2022	Gang enforcement	Traffic Violation	489	341	69.7
2022	Gang enforcement	Reasonable Suspicion	489	119	24.3
2022	Gang enforcement	Knowledge of outstanding arrest warrant/wanted person	489	16	3.3
2022	Gang enforcement	Known to be on Parole / Probation / PRCS / Mandatory Supervision	489	6	1.2
2022	Gang enforcement	Investigation to determine whether the person was truant	489	4	0.8
2022	Gang enforcement	Consensual Encounter resulting in a search	489	3	0.6

Stop reason by SDPD divisions

The majority of SDPD divisions conduct officer-initiated stops for Traffic Violation, with the second most common officer-initiated stop being for Reasonable Suspicions. There is no third stop reason that has a rate comparable to Traffic Violation or Reasonable Suspicion.

Notably, the Southeastern division disproportionately stops for Traffic Violation relative to Reasonable Suspicion, along with the Northwestern and Northeastern divisions.

Stop Results

Stop result by police assignment

Across all police units, Citation for Infraction and Warning (verbal or written) are the most common stop results, at 27.5% and 25.8% respectively. These two stop results make up approximately half of all stop results.

The gang enforcement unit stop results do not mirror the trends across all police units. The most common stop result for a gang enforcement stop is Field Interview Card Completed, comprising of 40.2% of all stop results. Warning (verbal or written) has the second highest rate at 20.6%.

Total and Rate of Officer-Initiated Stops by Stop Result

Year	Assignment	Result of Stop	Total	Count	Percent
2022	All units	Citation for infraction	95,543	26,229	27.5
2022	All units	Warning (verbal or written)	95,543	24,643	25.8
2022	All units	Field interview card completed	95,543	12,377	13.0
2022	All units	Custodial Arrest without warrant	95,543	10,317	10.8
2022	All units	No Action	95,543	9,129	9.6
2022	All units	Custodial Arrest pursuant to outstanding warrant	95,543	4,172	4.4
2022	All units	Psychiatric hold	95,543	3,793	4.0
2022	All units	In-field cite and release	95,543	3,136	3.3
2022	All units	Noncriminal transport or caretaking transport	95,543	1,410	1.5
2022	All units	Contacted parent/legal guardian or other person responsible for the minor	95,543	330	0.3
2022	All units	Contacted U.S. Department of Homeland Security	95,543	3	0.0
2022	All units	Referral to school administrator	95,543	3	0.0
2022	All units	Referral to school counselor or other support staff	95,543	1	0.0
2022	Gang enforcement	Field interview card completed	500	201	40.2
2022	Gang enforcement	Warning (verbal or written)	500	103	20.6
2022	Gang enforcement	Custodial Arrest without warrant	500	62	12.4
2022	Gang enforcement	No Action	500	51	10.2
2022	Gang enforcement	Citation for infraction	500	36	7.2
2022	Gang enforcement	Custodial Arrest pursuant to outstanding warrant	500	21	4.2
2022	Gang enforcement	Psychiatric hold	500	17	3.4
2022	Gang enforcement	In-field cite and release	500	7	1.4
2022	Gang enforcement	Contacted parent/legal guardian or other person responsible for the minor	500	2	0.4

Stop result by SDPD divisions

Stop result trends vary across SDPD divisions.

Hit Rates

This analysis looks at what percentage of stops that resulted in a search produced contraband. Approximately 70% of all stops that result in a search do not produce any contraband across all police units and for gang enforcement stops.

Hit Rate of Stops that Result in Searches

Year	Assignment	Contraband	Search Total	Percent
2022	All units	None	18,648	73.4
2022	All units	One or more contraband items	18,648	26.6
2022	Gang enforcement	None	190	70.0
2022	Gang enforcement	One or more contraband items	190	30.0

Age Demographics

Stops by age by poliice assignment

The gang enforcement unit stops more individuals between the age of 18-34 compared to all police units.

Total and Rate of Officer-Initiated Stops by Age Group

Year	Assignment	Age	Total	Count	Percent
2022	All units	18 and under	88,099	3,293	3.7
2022	All units	19-24	88,099	10,738	12.2
2022	All units	25-34	88,099	28,760	32.6
2022	All units	35-44	88,099	20,691	23.5
2022	All units	45-54	88,099	13,769	15.6
2022	All units	55-64	88,099	7,846	8.9
2022	All units	65 and older	88,099	3,002	3.4
2022	Gang enforcement	18 and under	484	48	9.9
2022	Gang enforcement	19-24	484	88	18.2
2022	Gang enforcement	25-34	484	174	36.0
2022	Gang enforcement	35-44	484	95	19.6
2022	Gang enforcement	45-54	484	41	8.5
2022	Gang enforcement	55-64	484	25	5.2
2022	Gang enforcement	65 and older	484	13	2.7

Stops by age by SDPD divisions

The Southeastern and Northern divisions disproportionately stops individuals age 25-34 relative to other age groups.

Race/Ethnicity Demographics

Stops by race by police assignment

The gang enforcement unit disproportionately stops Black and Latinx individuals.

Total and Rate of Officer-Initiated Stops by Race

Year	Assignment	Race	Total	Count	Percent
2022	All units	White NH	88,099	32,133	36.5
2022	All units	Latinx	88,099	30,234	34.3
2022	All units	Black NH	88,099	16,874	19.2
2022	All units	Asian NH	88,099	4,603	5.2
2022	All units	SSWANA	88,099	3,051	3.5
2022	All units	NHPI	88,099	870	1.0
2022	All units	Multiracial	88,099	513	0.6
2022	All units	AIAN	88,099	227	0.3
2022	Gang enforcement	Latinx	484	194	40.1
2022	Gang enforcement	Black NH	484	157	32.4
2022	Gang enforcement	White NH	484	89	18.4
2022	Gang enforcement	Asian NH	484	33	6.8
2022	Gang enforcement	SSWANA	484	7	1.4
2022	Gang enforcement	AIAN	484	3	0.6
2022	Gang enforcement	Multiracial	484	1	0.2
2022	Gang enforcement	NHPI	484	0	0.0

Stops by race by SDPD divisions

The Southeastern division disproportionately stops Black and Latinx individuals relative to other racial groups. The Souther division disproportionately stops Latinx individuals relative to other racial groups.

Map of Officer-Initiated Stops

This map shows the count of officer-initiated stops in 2022 by police beat for all police units and for the gang enforcement unit.